Device for removing animal droppings

ABSTRACT

A hinged container, including a disposable liner bag, is carried in closed position on the end of a long handle by the person walking a dog or other animal. The container is opened by manipulating a cable mechanism in the handle for placing the hinged container beneath the animal to receive the droppings in the open liner bag. The handle is then operated to close the container, together with the liner bag, for transporting in closed position to the disposal point, where the bag is sealed and removed.

United States Patent Magliaro Feb. 25, 1975 [54] DEVICE FOR REMOVINGANIMAL. 3,738,697 6/1973 Kahan 294/19 R DROPPINGS FOREIGN PATENTS 0RAPPLICATIONS [76] Inventor: Luke P. Magliaro, 79 Passaic Ave 351.8664/1922 Germany 15/2516 Berkeley Heights, N.J 1.142.678 4/1957 France294/19 R 1 [22] Filed: 1973 Primary Examiner-Daniel Blum [21] A l. No;353,695 Attorney. Agent. or Firm-Martha G. Pugh. Esq.

52 US. Cl. 294/1 R, 294/19 R, 294/509, 1 F 15/2575 1 [9/1 A h1ngedcontainer, including a disposable liner bag, is 51 1m. (:1. A01k 23/00,A011; 29/00 carried in closed and f a 0118 handle [58] Field of Search15/104.8 257.1 257.2 by the Person Walking a dog or other animal Thel5/257 6. 119/]. 294 R 19 R tainer is opened by manipulating a cablemechanism in the handle for placing the hinged container beneath heanimal to receive the dro ings in the open liner [56] References Cited tPP bag. The handle is then operated to close the con- UNITED STATESPATENTS tainer, together with the liner bag, for transporting in 3 2??3)? i closed position to the disposal point. where the bag is o nson I7 3,645,578 2/1972 Renfroe 294/535 Sealed and removed 3,733,098 5/1973Tobias 294/1 R 6 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures DEVICE FOR REMOVING ANIMALDROPPINGS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This relates in general to theremoval of animal droppings; and more particularly, to a device tofacilitate the disposal of dog feces.

Recently, in the media there has been much adverse criticism of dogowners for permitting their animals to deposit their droppings, inpublic places, and on the property of other persons. In a number ofurban areas legislation has actually been passed requiring dog owners toclean up after their pet in public areas. Various devices have beenprovided in the prior art for performing this chore.

All of the prior art devices require that the dog walker carry one ormore extra tools, in addition to handling the leash. Some of the toolsrequire bending and scooping. Others involve scissor-like devices whichoperate on longerhandles. In order to solve the problem of how todispose of the fecal matter after it has been removed, two recent priorart devices are provided with bags. One of these has a rigid frame foraccommodating the bag which must be installed and removed by hand.Another device employs a clamp-like mechanism which operates to, imposea bag over the.

material to be removed, which is an awkward operation. In addition, thislatter device is fairly complex mechanically, involving an internalspring moving in a sleeve and a number of moving parts which may becomeout of order or difficult to operate because of rust.

or other deterioration.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is the object of the presentinvention to provide a device for removing and disposing of animaldroppings which is simpler to construct and manipulate than those oftheprior art.

This and other objects are realized in the device in accordance with thepresent invention which involves a long, hollow handle to the lower endof which is attached a two-part shovel-like receptacle with a hingedclosure which is moved from closed to open position by means of a cablemanipulated from the upper end of the handle. The receptacle is designedto accommodate a removable bag of paper or the like, initially open atthe top and having a flap which is folded over by closure of thereceptacle after. the droppings have been deposited. The filled bagisthen carried by the closed receptacle for deposit in the nearest trashor garbage can, preferably without the necessity of handling.

An additional feature of the present invention is a clip to which theanimal leash is attached in order to avoid the necessity for carrying orholding an extra device while walking the animal.

The principal advantage of the present invention is the simplicity withwhich it operates, having merely a single cable to be manipulated by theoperator in a standing position and a single hinged moving part which isattached to the cable and serves to open and close the receptacle. Itwill be apparent that the device is easily fabricated from eithermetalor nonmetallic materials, such as plastic, wood, etc.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will bebetter understood from a study of the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspectiveshowing, looking into the container mechanism in open position withoutthe liner bag;

FIG. 3 is a perspective showing of the container in open position withthe liner bag in place; 7

FIG. 4 is a perspective showing, looking from above, of the container inclosed position with. the liner bag with the flap folded over;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the container in close position, lookingfrom below;

FIG. 6 shows the container portion turned on its back side to show theoperation of the closure control mechanism;

FIG. 7 shows the bag removed from the container;

and

FIG. 8 shows the bag sealed and ready for refuse deposit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Referring to FIG. 1 of thedrawings, there is shown the overall device 1 of the present inventionwhich comprises a receptacle 2 designed to set at ground level. This isconnected to a tubular support 6 at the upper end of which is a handgrip 3 having a carrying strap 4 attached to one end. At the upper endof the hand grip 3 is a handle 5 which is attached to one terminal of awire cable 10. The latter extends axially I through the length of thetubular support 6 and is fastened at its other terminal to manipulatethe receptacle 2 from closed to open position in a manner which will beexplained presently.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the receptacle 2 has a substantially stationarypart l3 and a movable part 14. The part 13 comprises a partial box-likestructure having a back wall 13a and side walls 13b and 130, all ofwhich are rigidly fixed to three sides of a base 13d. All of these partsmay be formed, for example, of rigid materials such as metals, includingaluminum, galvanized iron, wood, or any of the well-known rigid plasticmaterials, such as, for example, ABS resins, pvc-aerylic sheeting, highdensity polyethylene or any substantially rigid plastic material whichcan be formed into sheets, say 1116 inch thick, and/or molded into thedesired shape in any manner well-known in the art. The base l3dispreferably a rectangle about 3 inches by 6 inches, to

which the back 13a and the sides 13b and are molded or otherwiseconnected at. substantially right angular junctions. The back 13a isalso rectangular in form, say 3% inches by 6 inches, and the sides 13band 13c are substantially in the form of right angle triangles, theright angle edges molded or joined in each case integrally with the base13d and back 13a, the hypotenuse of the triangle being the open end.

Coupled to stationary member 13 is movable member 14 which comprises abase 14a having dimensions 4 inches by 6 inches and shallow parallelflanges 14b and 140, bent normally upward at its two sides to a heightof 9/16 inch. The member 14a is coupled along the lower edge of the base13d of the receptacle 2 by means of a pair of pivots 7 and 8 which mayassume any conventional form, such as ordinary bolts, which pass throughand couple the two corners together. Near the inside ends of the sides14b and are a pair of grips oribosses and9b (not shown) which are, forexam ple,-%pinch upfrom the b'ase and inch in from the front edge. Thesetake the form of rectangular protuwf berances parallel to the base, andhaving dimensions'of, I

It will be understood of course, that theback and;

sides of the Stationary part l3of receptacle 2 and ofjitfs 'movablecounterpart 14 need not necessarily be rectangular inform, as indicatedin the presentexampley;

but that the stationary part can be molded as a single open-endedscoopto oneedge, of whicha matching hinged extension, also molded in onepiece including 7 the protuberances 9a and 9b, can be attached;

7 Connected externally to the upper center portion of back 13a, in rigidrelation, is a support 11 in'whichis mounted the terminal yend ofthe.tubular shaftportion 6 For the comfort of the user, the axis of'thelatter is preferably attached so that theshaft :6 projects back I wardfrom the vertical back portionllla at a slight" sage through aneyeletl2, thehookedend ofthe cable terminating in and being fixed on oneend to a lever mechaniSm ISQThe lever mechanism 15 is rigidly fastenedatone of its endsto the bottom of the pivotallyf Vconnectededge of movablebase14a, being centered Vbetweenand substantially parallelto the sides'14bjand f j i35 handle Sis pulled out to it s' full' lengthrto hold thebase f 14a inopen'position', the calrlleistaut. t

14c. The length of cable -'is adjustedrso that when the V Referring toFIG. 4, whichshowsmovable portion l 4" f V in closedposition; one isable to see the osition of the lever mechanism to: whichthe terminalxvofthe cabl'e lll is attached. It is seenthatthe lever, mechanism ls V ispreferably formed fromaan{L-sectionchannel eta rigid'materiaLsuchasaluminurmgalvanized steelxorr tangle of about i 2 For the purposes ofthe present ex 7 ample; the'cable 10 is formed from 14 gauge stainlesssteel cable wire, about 3 feet, 8' inches, longAt the lower end of thesupport 11,,which is hollowed out to '7 accommodate the "passage of thecable 10, is an open ing 11a through which the cable 10 emerges for pass1 1 base portion 14a. The portion of flap 18d extending beyondthe outeredge of the lattercontains a second fold 23 parallel "to and about 1%inches from-the: end. Cen-Q tered .on'vthe outside of the back I Sdfofthe bag is a" length ofspressure tapex24 :(see'FlG l'); which extendssubstantially parallel toltheedge gandapproximately r V a inch down fromthe top, This isadapted; upon removal of the protectiveicovering; toseal thelip of flap 'l8tirin fromfthe receptacle the like; or rigidplastic, comprising a base portion a a f which is 3 incheslongandl/zinchwide and a re'ctan gu f W larly projectinglflange 15}; which'matchesithe lengthyV 1 and width of the base *ISa Nearcneend;ofthelatter, theterminal hooked portion of the cable 10 is' rigidlyl iconnected by means of aboltorscrew orby anyother 7 meanswelbkno'wnintherartrlt willbe noted from'FlG.

V V 4 thatawhen the; receptaclez i'sinclosed'position the levcr'lsextendsoutwardly from the closedbottom a edge ofl4a] ,r a r FIG. Sis abottom .view, showing theyposition'of lever 15 when" the "receptacle 2isinopen positions lnf this case, leverlS extends from the base 14a .ofthe mov I ablexportion to which it is'attached beneaththe base:

' 13d of the stationary portion. The bases 13d and; 14d" 7 I aretherebymaintainedsubstantially inthe same plane. The cable l0lpassesthrough theopening 11a in the support lland througha supportingeyelet 12 con-- nected externally: to therlower part of the back wall 13a,terminating in;th1c rigidrhook-likeconnectionto the lever IScWhencable'lttmovcsdownward inthe showing of PK). 5, the lever 15 is causedto pivot about .the external edge ofv 13d, causing hingcdr'nember l4to ir V close, as shown in FlGS-.-4 or 6. Clip l6, which isconnected, to the1 support: member c 1 1, form 'of'connection, forthe animal leash; e

claims set forthrhe'reinafter. o q

- FIG. r3showsia specially designed paper bag helcl'in Q I place bytheig'r ip sor bosses Qbjand 9c;(not'shown): I while the device isinopen'position. It will be noted that 'theibag 18, in open position,hasa short side -about4 /fi "incheshigh"andS'lsFinches'wider'whichiisplaced in position against the back13a of thecontainer2t-Backflapf 7 18a is connected betweena pair'ofsidegflaps 18band l8c wchich respectively rest against the'corresponding sides 13b and13e of the receptacle ZrTheSe sideflaps r are substantially triangularinshape, extending about 2 inches alongithebottom edge and about linches'high; r

A lip approximately /z inch wideextends beyond the sides at the top endof the, backfiap 18a; Each of these" triangular flaps 18b and l8c bearsacrease for storage purposes at about a 45 angle'withthsidearid bottom If portions. Extendingloutwardlyfrom thecrease 2 2 at v the bottom ofback flap 418a, when the bag is: in place;

is the base flap 718d which isapproximately 5% inches "wide, conformingin widthto the back flap l8a and c about8% incheslong,-extendlngbeyondgthe end of the base 14a of'the movable'portion 1 4." Itwillbenoted, that when in position the flap 18d contains a first fold'20 roughly conforming to the inner tpivotted edgeiof nticipation of rel lfi e bag,

.ln usin'gthe devicmthecdog"wall-ter rnay connectthe f leashiofhis'tdogto the' clip lo and:,carryjthezdevice l w t with thetreceptaclel inclosedposition,as shown in 1 I c *FIG; 4. The receptaclehasfbeenlprepared in'jadvance V l 71 l V by placingfithe disposable bag'18 in positiomasl' shown i Y in FIG. 3. At thepointwhejnthe animalisactions make it'necessary; thefhandlesrispulledupgopening'the're- I p Iceptacle 2',whichiszputin place sbeneath theanimaljj Y catchingthehdroppings inthe open bag 1 8- -Thefrecep'- a c a I r i ,taclel is eO dii ydd ll fissi hgthehandle 5 and; 1 {1 carried; in closed positionwith the gdog still on the a leash, togthe "place ofdisposal; It will benoted thatin: g 1 i so called fclosed i positiDfl. there is asubstantial clean e ancegan inchorso wide between theitopendofrnov: I rable member 14 and Ethetop of stationary member; H through}whichthellpper ends of the liner; bag 18pmtrude. At this point thebagmay be sealed without -actu-', c allyremoving iit from receptacle2,:iby overlappingthe r r ends ancl removingythe protective coating frompres 4 "sure'tape ZMThe sealed bag '18 is thenpreferably re- Y a 1 moved'withouthandllng, byisimply opening and upendreceptacle Alternatively,the "closed bag 18,115 shownin FIG. 8,1can be removed manually, I 7' itltwill be apparentthat within contemplation of lthe invention there areother formsthan the specificstruc ture described herein by" way: ofillustratior1; andgthat-v g .the scope of the presentinvention islimited only by'thc i M1. Adevicc for removing s lsa droppingslwhich Pcor nprises in combinationz V isla coni/cntio'nalLy a receptacleconstructed to operate from closed to open position,

said receptacle comprising a partial enclosure including a flat basemember partially closed on three sides by a back wall between two sidewalls, and open at the top and along one edge,

a hinged closure pivotally connected along said one edge,

said hinged closure forming in open-faced position an extension insubstantially the same plane as said base member,

a long hollow shaft rigidly fastened externally to the back of saidpartial enclosure, and positioned to extend upwardly when said basemember is seated horizontally,

a mechanism for opening and closing said receptacle comprising anelongated lever on the under side of said base member extended in adirection substantially normal to said open edge and having one endfixed externally to the extension of said base member in a positionsubstantially midway between said side walls, and having the other endfree,

a cable connected at one terminal to the free endof said lever andpassing slidably through said shaft,

said cable terminating at its other end in a handle adjacent the top ofsaid shaft for slidably manipulating said cable in said shaft to movesaid closure from closed to open position, and vice versa, and

means for accommodating and holding one flap of a disposable containerin place on the face of said hinged extension. I

2. The combination in accordance with claim 1 wherein the systemcomprising said handle, cable and lever is constructed to open saidhinged closure when said cable is pulled taut by said handle and atleast partially to close said hinged closure over said enclosure whensaid handle is depressed 3. The combination in accordance with claim 1said hinged closure comprising in addition to the extension of said basemember extensions of said side walls, wherein said means foraccommodating and holding in place said disposable container comprises apair of bosses respectively positioned on opposite inner side walls ofsaid extension for holding in place one mal plane to beyond the end ofsaid hinged closure in open position and constructed for accommodationbeneath said bosses,

said elongated flap having a second crease substantially parallel tosaid first crease and substantially conforming to the pivotted edge ofsaid hinged closure, side portions connected between said first andsecond flaps creased to conform when in place to the junctions betweenthe back and side walls of said receptacle and extending substantiallyabove the side walls of said receptacle, and said bag having sealingmeans near the top external face of said first flap,

whereby when said hinged closure is closed against said receptacle saidsecond flap is folded over so that the edge thereof is adjacent theupper edge of said first flap, the two flaps being constructed forfolding and sealing together for removal of said bag from saidreceptacle.

5. The combination in accordance with claim 4 wherein when saidreceptacle is in closed position a longitudinal gap is provided betweenthe back edge of said enclosure and the forward edge of said hingedclosure.

6. The combination in accordance with claim 5 wherein the top edges ofsaid shorter flap and said elongated flap extend outwardly through saidgap in slightly overlapping relation when said receptacle is in closedposition.

1. A device for removing animal droppings which comprises incombination: a receptacle constructed to operate from closed to openposition, said receptacle comprising a partial enclosure including aflat base member partially closed on three sides by a back wall betweentwo side walls, and open at the top and along one edge, a hinged closurepivotally connected along said one edge, said hinged closure forming inopen-faced position an extension in substantially the same plane as saidbase member, a long hollow shaft rigidly fastened externally to the backof said partial enclosure, and positioned to extend upwardly when saidbase member is seated horizontally, a mechanism for opening and closingsaid receptacle comprising an elongated lever on the under side of saidbase member extended in a direction substantially normal to said openedge and having one end fixed externally to the extension of said basemember in a position substantially midway between said side walls, andhaving the other end free, a cable connected at one terminal tO the freeend of said lever and passing slidably through said shaft, said cableterminating at its other end in a handle adjacent the top of said shaftfor slidably manipulating said cable in said shaft to move said closurefrom closed to open position, and vice versa, and means foraccommodating and holding one flap of a disposable container in place onthe face of said hinged extension.
 2. The combination in accordance withclaim 1 wherein the system comprising said handle, cable and lever isconstructed to open said hinged closure when said cable is pulled tautby said handle and at least partially to close said hinged closure oversaid enclosure when said handle is depressed.
 3. The combination inaccordance with claim 1 said hinged closure comprising in addition tothe extension of said base member extensions of said side walls, whereinsaid means for accommodating and holding in place said disposablecontainer comprises a pair of bosses respectively positioned on oppositeinner side walls of said extension for holding in place one flap of adisposable container.
 4. The combination in accordance with claim 3including a disposable bag, said bag having a first crease substantiallyapproximating the position of the junction between the base member andback wall of said receptacle when in place in said receptacle, a firstshorter flap constructed to extend vertically from said first crease asubstantial height above the top edge of said back wall, a secondelongated flap substantially conforming to the inner width of saidreceptacle, constructed to extend from said first crease in asubstantially normal plane to beyond the end of said hinged closure inopen position and constructed for accommodation beneath said bosses,said elongated flap having a second crease substantially parallel tosaid first crease and substantially conforming to the pivotted edge ofsaid hinged closure, side portions connected between said first andsecond flaps creased to conform when in place to the junctions betweenthe back and side walls of said receptacle and extending substantiallyabove the side walls of said receptacle, and said bag having sealingmeans near the top external face of said first flap, whereby when saidhinged closure is closed against said receptacle said second flap isfolded over so that the edge thereof is adjacent the upper edge of saidfirst flap, the two flaps being constructed for folding and sealingtogether for removal of said bag from said receptacle.
 5. Thecombination in accordance with claim 4 wherein when said receptacle isin closed position a longitudinal gap is provided between the back edgeof said enclosure and the forward edge of said hinged closure.
 6. Thecombination in accordance with claim 5 wherein the top edges of saidshorter flap and said elongated flap extend outwardly through said gapin slightly overlapping relation when said receptacle is in closedposition.